The Mysterious Cities Of Gold (thing)

"It is the sixteenth century. From all over Europe great ships sail west to conquer the New World, the Americas. The men eager to seek their fortune, to find new adventures in new lands. They long to cross uncharted seas and discover unknown countries. To find secret gold on a mountain trail high in the Andes. They dream of following the path of the setting sun that leads to El Dorado, and the Mysterious Cities Of Gold!"

The Mysterious Cities Of Gold (MCoG) was an 80's cartoon produced in French by a Japanese animation company (the original series was called "Les Mysterieuses Cites d'Or"). The series consists of 39 episodes totalling around 14 hours. An English-dubbed version of the series
ran in the U.K. on the BBC, and in America on Nickelodeon. It is loosely based on the book "The King's Fifth" by Scott O'Dell, and music for the series was produced by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy.

The series centered around three children, Estaban, an orphan in Barcelona, who is believed to be able to bring out the sun, Zia, an Incan girl stolen from her people, and Tao, the last remaining survivor of an ancient civilization that sank into the sea centuries ago. The three, each with a different goal, accompany the explorer Mendoza and his crew in the search for the Cities Of Gold. Esteban searches for the hidden meaning behind the medallion he wears around his neck. Zia hopes to be reunited with her father at long last. Tao dreams of learning the lost history of his people. Along the way they find wonders of ancient technology, including a golden condor that flies and a galleon with solar sails. But the ruthless Spaniards are gold-hungry, and the Olmecs are waging war against the peaceful tribes of the Americas. And if that weren't enough, the Cities Of Gold themselves hold the power to destroy mankind if they should fall into the wrong hands.

Each episode in this linear storyline also featured a three minute documentary featuring live footage, which helped put the series into a historical perspective and provide some sort of educational experience to the viewer. For whatever reasons, these documentaries were cut out of BBC broadcasts.

Episode List (which I will node in due time)

Esteban, Child of the Sun

Crossing the Atlantic

Heroes Again

Adrift on the Endless Sea

The Abduction of Zia

The Ship Solaris

Secret of the Solaris

The New Continent

The End of the Solaris

Secret of the Temple

Messangers of the Region

Secret of the Medallions

Mystery of the Parents

Esteban's Medallion

The Subterranean Secret

The Urubus

The Great Condor

Maiden Flight of the Great Condor

The Nazca Plateau

The Spaniards' Cannon

The Amazons

The Mirror of the Moon

The Jade Mask

The Manuscript

The Lake of Gold

The Swamps

The Doors of Night

The Forest of Statues

The Burning Shield

The Escape

The Village of the New Sun

Attack of the Olmecs

The Reunion

Revolt of the Mayas

The Olmec Machine

Aeriel Pursuit

The City of Gold

The Great Legacy

The End of the City of Gold

Theme Song to "The Mysterious Cities Of Gold"

Children of the sun
See your time has just begun
Searching for your ways
Through adventures every day

Every day and night
With the condor we'll fight
With all your friends in tow
Search for the Cities of Gold

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Wishing for the Cities Of Gold...
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Someday we will find the Cities Of Gold!